FAA seeks public input on privacy related to unmanned pilot program

WASHINGTON, 16 Feb. 2013. The introduction unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into public airspace will require ensuring that privacy is appropriately protected, affirms a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official.

Congress, via the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, directed the FAA to conduct critical research into how best to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace over the next several years and what certification and navigation requirements will need to be established.

The FAA is soliciting proposals from state and local governments, eligible universities, and other public entities to develop six unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) research and test sites throughout the U.S. The expanded use of UAS represents a major next step in aviation innovation and will present economic opportunities both for the communities that are selected for this pilot program and for the aerospace industry in general, says a representative.

Privacy protection is a consideration in the site selection process. Under the FAA privacy proposal, each test site operator must ensure that its privacy policies are informed by Fair Information Practice Principles, a widely accepted framework of privacy principles at the core of numerous federal and state privacy laws.

The FAA is requesting public input into FAA efforts to ensure that privacy questions surrounding the pilot program are properly addressed. The FAA’s proposed privacy approach emphasizes transparency, public engagement, and compliance with existing law.

Along with the test site selection process, the FAA is sending a notice to the Federal Register asking the public to review the draft privacy language and provide comments. The FAA will consider all comments submitted as it develops the final privacy requirements. These requirements will be included in the agreements between the test sites and the FAA. The privacy proposal is available on the FAA’s website: Federal Register Request for Comment (Copy Only) (PDF).

Prior to the close of the Federal Register comment period, the FAA will host an online listening session to solicit additional comments on the proposed privacy approach. The agency will publish a notice providing details for the listening session sufficiently in advance with full details.

The request for comments on the proposed UAS test site privacy approach, including instructions for filing comments, will be published in the Federal Register and the public will have 60 days to comment. The FAA will post all comments it receives, without change, to: http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information the commenter provides.

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